Veteran forward PJ Tucker and newly acquired center Christian Wood did not travel with the Houston Rockets to Chicago for preseason games this weekend, head coach Stephen Silas said before Friday’s opener.
Wood is out with a sore elbow, though it’s believed to be a minor issue, and Silas said he anticipates Wood being able to play once the Rockets return to Houston for preseason games next Tuesday and Thursday.
Meanwhile, Tucker had a slightly late arrival to training camp, which delayed his COVID-19 testing protocols. Silas said Friday that while Tucker has attended recent practices, he’s yet to actually go through one yet. Silas said the Rockets are in communication with Tucker, and he’s expected to practice with the team once they arrive back in Houston.
With Tucker, Wood, and James Harden all absent, the Rockets started John Wall, Eric Gordon, Danuel House Jr., Jae’Sean Tate, and DeMarcus Cousins against the Bulls in Friday’s opener.
"P.J. Tucker is back in Houston working out, Christian Wood has an elbow that he's dealing with."
Sterling Brown has progressed to individual workouts.
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) December 11, 2020
Tucker posted Instagram stories earlier Friday of a workout with Harden, seemingly at Toyota Center in Houston. “The Beard” is not eligible to join group activities until the team returns from Chicago, owing to his own delayed camp arrival and extended testing protocols.
Reserve guard Sterling Brown has also been away from the Rockets due to testing protocols, though Silas said before Friday’s game that he had progressed to individual workouts. A timetable for Brown joining group activities has yet to be specified.
Assuming negative tests, Tucker and Harden could both join the Rockets on the practice court by Monday. The team will arrive back in Houston late Sunday night following a second game in Chicago.
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PJ Tucker did not travel with the Rockets for this weekend’s preseason games in Chicago. He reported to camp a day late and has been a limited participant in practices as the Rockets carefully ramp up the 35-year-old’s activity. https://t.co/fiIPHpIfVj
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) December 11, 2020
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